A Scientific Urban Detective

“Although I didn't have the chance to directly use my mind-reading abilities on that Board Member Sherbin, I can still get a good idea of what kind of person he is through personality profiling – I'm not just relying on my powers, you know~” Misaki Shokuhou said smugly. “In short, Sherbin is a pathetic guy who clings desperately to ‘power’ as his lifeline, constantly afraid of losing his position.”

“What does that mean?” Lin Wuming asked.

“Compared to the other publicly visible board members, Sherbin is the most obsessed with his status and position,” Misaki Shokuhou explained. “If you carefully analyze his various decisions and policies, it’s not hard to see that all his actions seem to point towards the same ultimate goal – and that is to protect his current power!”

“Board Member?” Lin Wuming said.

“That’s right, his identity as a Board Member.” Misaki Shokuhou nodded.

“So what? What’s the point of saying all this?” Mikoto Misaka asked, looking puzzled.

“Misaka-san, you know, what a person lacks most is what they care about most.” While saying this, Misaki Shokuhou looked Mikoto Misaka up and down.

Mikoto Misaka was confused by her gaze and couldn't help but look down at herself: “What’s wrong? I don’t lack anything right now, so there’s nothing I particularly care about!”

Indeed, ever since the “Sisters” incident was resolved, Mikoto Misaka had been in a state of contentment, with no desires or wants. She didn't even care much about Misaki Shokuhou's deliberate teasing anymore.

“Tch!” Misaki Shokuhou shook her head and withdrew her gaze.

It was just a pity that Misaki Shokuhou herself was still in her developmental stage and didn't yet have the capital to mock Mikoto Misaka. Until next year…

Misaki Shokuhou snorted meaningfully twice, then said: “As a board member who already holds a high position of power, second only to Chairman Aleister, don’t you think Sherbin is a little too concerned about his identity as a ‘Board Member’?”

“Shokuhou, you mean…” Lin Wuming finally understood.

“A mere secondary industry, in a place like Academy City, I’m afraid it’s hard to support the position of a Board Member, right?” Misaki Shokuhou said. “That’s why Sherbin is trying every possible way to invest in developing new projects, even creating exaggerated things like machines that imitate and activate superpowers!”

If Misaki Shokuhou's series of inferences were correct, then Board Member Sherbin's actions would all be explained.

Whether it was promoting the "unmanned" reform of the secondary industry or investing in the "mechanization and generalization of superpowers," it was all ultimately an effort to protect his position as a "Board Member."

“Indeed,” Lin Wuming pinched his chin thoughtfully, “Thinking about it carefully, from this perspective, the easiest of all the board members to be squeezed out and replaced is indeed that guy Sherbin.”

Again, a mere secondary industry, while important, is by no means indispensable to Academy City.

“I see,” Mikoto Misaka nodded, “So that’s why he attaches so much importance to the FIVE_Over project and collects your ability information at all costs?”

“I think FIVE_Over is probably not the most important thing,” Lin Wuming’s mind also opened up a lot. “As I said before, he is not the only host of FIVE_Over; this project is probably just a platform for Board Member Sherbin to connect with other high-level figures. For him, the real foundation of his position is probably the ‘unmanned reform’ plan.”

Which is the culprit behind the large-scale demonstrations currently taking place.

Using a more conspiratorial line of thinking, Board Member Sherbin's plan to lay off almost all the workers at once is probably also to force Academy City's secondary industry to actively upgrade to "unmanned."

At that time, Board Member Sherbin, who has mastered the ultimate "unmanned" technology, will have an unshakable position!

“Senior Wuming is right, but not comprehensive.” Misaki Shokuhou corrected, “In fact, before the ‘unmanned’ technology matures, the lifeline that Board Member Sherbin really values is the ‘superpower mechanization and generalization’ project.”

“After all that,” Mikoto Misaka couldn’t help but complain, “No matter which plan it is, Board Member Sherbin is a bad guy, that’s right.”

“There is still a difference,” Misaki Shokuhou said with a smile, “It has nothing to do with us, but it is very important to Sandan Sen-san.”

Speaking of this, Misaki Shokuhou suddenly paused, and then corrected: “No, it probably has something to do with me now.”

Since Board Member Sherbin promoted the “superpower mechanization and generalization” project in the past few years, where did the test subjects required for the experiment come from?

Combining the known information, it is not difficult to infer the source of the test subjects – the juvenile detention center.

Coincidentally, that period was the stage when the “disappearance situation” in the juvenile detention center was most frequent.

Sadan Sen's sister, Takebayashi Yosuzu, also disappeared from the juvenile detention center at that time.

On the other hand, since neither of the two main projects in his hands had achieved effective results, Board Member Sherbin's position must have been even more precarious during that time.

In order to protect his seat, Board Member Sherbin would of course use all the resources and power in his hands to suppress and eliminate anyone who might threaten him.

Of course, this included “Eitai Himegimi” who had the opportunity to become a board member…

…

Board Member Sherbin finished his day's schedule and returned to his office.

“Hmph… what a waste of my whole day!”

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Recalling the negotiation process with the workers' representatives not long ago, Board Member Sherbin showed a look of disgust.

“Wasting my precious time and energy on such worthless things and things!” After cursing a few times, he finally calmed down, leaned back in his chair, and re-examined his plan.

——Today's meeting and negotiation was just a show, used to shut up that old woman Funehata Saichou.

As long as he can fire all those worthless workers as soon as possible, then his plan will be more than half successful.

Board Member Sherbin has the confidence that no one is more proficient in the field of “unmanned” technology than himself.

——By that time, Academy City cannot live without me!

Before that, these small humiliations are bearable.

Just as Board Member Sherbin was immersed in a beautiful future, there was still untimely bad news to disturb him.

“Sir! There is a situation at the juvenile detention center.” The secretary closest to him walked into the office and whispered the bad news.

“The security forces have fully controlled the juvenile detention center, causing our information to be more than thirty hours late.”

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